7 Ways to Boost Your Health and Fitness Levels
7 Ways to Boost Your Health and Fitness Levels Feeling good about your health and fitness levels can have positive effects on all aspects of your life. If you’re looking to improve your health, here are seven ways you can boost your health and fitness levels. You’ll feel better almost instantly, so start incorporating these into your life today!


1) Exercise


Exercise is an important component of health; it keeps our minds sharp, our bodies healthy, and helps us be more productive. One study even showed that exercise may reduce stress (and its effects) by up to 64 percent. If you’re not a fan of exercise, start small with one or two short sessions per week. Find an activity you like—even if it’s just taking a 15-minute walk outside during your break—and make that your goal for now. Once you’ve established a routine, try increasing your workout time by five minutes each day until you hit 30 minutes of daily exercise. From there, slowly increase your workouts as much as possible without overdoing it.


2) Sleep Enough


If you’re not sleeping enough, your body can’t completely recover from stress, which means you can get sick more easily. That tired feeling isn’t just a figment of your imagination—it really does drain your energy. Studies show that people who sleep longer have higher levels of human growth hormone (HGH), which helps preserve muscle mass. And since HGH is released during deep slumber, getting enough zzz’s is essential for weight loss. When we don’t get enough sleep, our hunger-regulating hormone leptin decreases, making us feel hungrier. At the same time, our fat-storage hormone ghrelin increases, so we crave carbs like bread and pasta, says Caroline Cederquist, MD, founder of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. Too little sleep also makes us less active.


3) Eat Right


Don’t underestimate how important healthy eating is, especially if you’re exercising. If you don’t feed your body, it won’t be able to keep itself going during a workout. Eating right will help you stay healthy in all aspects of life. Don’t deprive yourself of nutrients: eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and lean proteins. Healthy fats are also essential for a balanced diet. Try adding avocado or olive oil to salads or using coconut oil when cooking. Title: 7 Ways to Boost Your Health and Fitness Levels Sleep Right: Sleep is crucial for our health, both mentally and physically. It helps us recharge after a long day at work so we can tackle another one tomorrow.


4) Reduce Stress


We often focus on eating well, exercising and other health behaviors—but stress also plays a major role in how healthy or unhealthy we are. It’s nearly impossible to manage your health levels if you don’t know how much stress is affecting you. Identifying stressful triggers, figuring out ways to manage them, and then practicing those skills regularly can have a huge impact on both your physical and mental health levels. Here are some tips for reducing stress Title: 7 Ways to Boost Your Health and Fitness Levels Exercise: Regular exercise has been shown to boost energy levels, improve sleep quality, reduce chronic pain and depression symptoms, improve heart health and even fight aging. But it’s not just about working out more; it’s about working out smarter.


5) Don’t Smoke


When it comes to health, smoking is one of those things that has absolutely no redeeming qualities. It damages nearly every organ in your body, causes all sorts of diseases, increases your risk of dying from cancer, etc., etc., etc. Quitting smoking will not only improve your health immediately but it can also help reduce blood pressure over time. If you’re currently a smoker and want to kick your habit for good, here are a few tips that may help


6) Drink Water


Not drinking enough water can lead to dehydration, which causes you to feel tired and lethargic. Additionally, it has been linked with a host of health conditions, including constipation. If you’re feeling sluggish throughout your day, consider drinking more water—it’s one of the easiest ways to boost your health levels. Drink at least eight glasses of water each day to ensure optimal health. If that sounds like too much, start by tracking your intake; once you get in the habit, try increasing your consumption by a few ounces each week until you hit eight glasses per day. Add Exercise: Exercise is important for all aspects of health, but for most people who are trying to lose weight or keep off pounds lost over time, exercise plays an especially crucial role in helping them achieve their goals.


7) Keep it in Perspective


When you’re trying to maintain optimal physical and mental health, it can sometimes be difficult to see a good day. That doesn’t mean it isn’t there, however—instead of looking at things with a pessimistic attitude, look at them with an optimistic one. If you stay on top of your health, you’ll have plenty of opportunity for success! Title: 7 Ways to Boost Your Health and Fitness Levels Don’t Lose Track of Yourself: Sometimes, when we start working out or changing our diets in order to improve our health, we get so focused on reaching that next milestone that we lose track of ourselves. Don’t do that—as important as hitting goals is (and they are), remember that you should enjoy these changes along the way too!